Graduate Studies

There are many fine programs both in public higher education and in private colleges and universities. For the most part, acceptance rates in M.Ed. and M.A.T. programs are high, with some schools accepting nearly all applicants. A few of the programs are quite selective, however, particularly if you are applying in highly subscribed areas such as English or Social Studies Education. You may pursue a master's degree if you already have certification or you can obtain both a teaching certificate and a master's degree concurrently. Most ed. programs require that you take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) but some allow you to substitute the Miller Analogies Test (MAT). GPA requirements range from about 2.5 to 3.0. Many schools look most carefully at the GPA in your major or your GPA in the last two years of undergraduate work. But unlike some other graduate school fields, schools of education rarely have GPA cutoff scores.

Schools that have a competitive admissions' process are looking for applicants who have a strong academic record in their discipline, who show real enthusiasm and commitment for a career in education, and whose prior experiences in education (tutoring, classroom assisting, coaching etc.) demonstrate that the candidate has given this career choice some thought. Prior coursework in education is not essential but can be helpful, particularly if a field placement was part of the course.

Application deadlines for some of the private universities are in January. Most of the public institutions have rolling admissions or spring deadlines. For the best private schools, expect to pay tuition similar to the Haverford/Bryn Mawr rates. Financial aid or internships/teaching assistantships are available in some of the programs. The public universities are much cheaper especially if you are a resident of that state.
If you are looking to get certified through a graduate school program it may make things easier for you in the long run to go to a college or university in the state in which you plan to teach. Schools will only certify students for their own state. Transferring certificates is up to the student, and while many certificates are easily transferable, some state requirements vary. Furthermore, schools often have contacts in the area to help in the job search later on.

The best-known schools/departments of education include the following (this refers to the overall reputation of the ed. school, including its doctoral programs):

Public Universities: UCLA/UC Berkeley, Michigan State University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Virginia-Curry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Ohio State University-Columbus, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Indiana University-Bloomington, University of Texas-Austin

An invaluable resource in the graduate school search is Peterson's Compact Guide to Graduate Studies in Education. The guide provides not only information on every education graduate school in the country, but also information on the entire process of applying. The guide is available in the library.

The following information on graduate programs (including those listed above) was taken from U.S. News & World Report (" grad school") and the schools' own web-sites. The name of the school, the web address and some basic information is listed below. Costs are difficult to determine and probably already somewhat out of date. Contact schools directly for exact figures.

Public

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AND INFORMATION STUDIEShttp://www.gseis.ucla.edu/
U.S. News Rank: #4 in general education, #10 in educational psychology
Application deadline is Dec. 15.
GRE required; average verbal=534, quantitative=596, analytical=588
Offers master's degrees in a variety of things; certification is available; there is a program which emphasizes urban teaching

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATIONhttp://www.berkeley.edu
U.S. News Rank: #5 in general education and educational psychology, #7 in philosophical foundations
Application deadline is Dec.15.
GRE is required; average verbal=566, quantitative=610, analytical=607
Offers a variety of programs and certification in various subjects including special education.

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF EDUCATIONhttp://www.educ.msu.edu
U.S. News Rank: #13 in general education, #6 in philosophical foundations and education administration, #4 in educational psychology and curriculum & instruction, #1 in elementary teaching, and secondary teaching
Application deadline is July 2.
GRE is used but not required for all applicants; average verbal=514, quantitative=551, analytical=557
Offers a variety of certification and non-certification programs at master's and doctorate levels.

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS- URBANA-CHAMPAIGN COLLEGE OF EDUCATIONhttp://www.ed.uiuc.edu/ipo/
U.S. News Rank: #11 in general education, #9 in education administration, #5 in philosophical foundations , elementary teaching, special education and curriculum & instruction, #3 in educational psychology, #6 in secondary teaching
Application deadline is Feb.15.

GRE is used but not required of all applicants; average verbal=532, quantitative=668, analytical=592
Offers a variety of certification and non-certification programs at the master's and doctorate level (including technology in learning).

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA- THE CURRY SCHOOL OF EDUCATIONhttp://curry.edschool.virginia.edu
U.S. News Rank: #13 in general education, #10 in elementary teaching, #9 in secondary teaching, #4 in special education
Application deadline is March 1.

GRE is required; average verbal=537, quantitative=577, analytical=591
Offers a variety of certification and non-certification programs at the master's and doctorate level.

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN- MADISON THE GRADUATE SCHOOLhttp://www.wisc.edu/grad
U.S. News Rank: #9 in general education, #2 in education administration, secondary teaching, curriculum & instruction and educational psychology, #3 in philosophical foundations, #4 in elementary teaching, #7 in special education
Application deadline varies with department (generally March 1).

GRE is required; average verbal=524, quantitative=564, analytical=582
Offers both master's and doctorate in a variety of areas (including ELS and technology in education). Most of the programs offered are strictly for persons already certified and/or pursuing advanced degrees which do not require certification. Certification may be obtained but this option is limited and done on a one-to-one basis with an advisor (contact their office).

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY-COLUMBUS COLLEGE OF EDUCATIONhttp://www.osu.edu/
U.S. News Rank: #7 in general education, #4 in education administration, #3 in secondary and elementary teaching, #6 in curriculum & instruction
Application deadline is Jan.1; in-state tuition $5,145 (full time), $214/credit hr (part time) and out-of-state tuition $13,845 (full time), $504/credit hr (part time)
GRE is used but not required for all applicants; average verbal=512, quantitative=565, analytical=615
Offers a variety of certification and non-certification programs at the master's and doctorate levels.

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA-TWIN CITIES THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENThttp://www.umn.edu
U.S. News Rank: #10 in general education and curriculum & instruction, #7 in educational psychology, #3 in special education
Application deadline varies with program.
GRE required; average verbal=542, quantitative=586, analytical=609
Offers a variety of master's (can lead to certification if needed) and doctoral programs.

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS-AUSTIN COLLEGE OF EDUCATIONhttp://www.edb.utexas.edu/coe/
U.S. News Rank: #11 in general education, #7 in education administration
Application deadline is Feb.1.
GRE required; average verbal=521, quantitative=616, analytical=578
Offers a variety of master's (can acquire certification if needed) degrees (including health education) and doctoral programs.

Private

HARVARD GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATIONhttp://www.gse.harvard.edu/
U.S News Rank: #1 in general education, #1 in education administration, and #10 in educational psychology.
Application deadlines vary.
GRE (preferred) or MAT required; average GRE verbal=569, quantitative=609, analytical=621 and average MAT= 60
Many graduate programs available, but only two where certification is an option: TAC and MCMS- secondary certification in a variety of subjects.

TEACHERS COLLEGE, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITYhttp://www.tc.columbia.edu/
U.S. News Rank: #2 in general education, #5 in education administration, #2 in philosophical foundations, #8 in educational psychology, #2 in elementary teaching, #4 in secondary teaching, #10 in special education, #1 in curriculum & instruction
Application deadline is Feb. 01.
GRE/MAT is not required
A variety of certification and non-certification programs are available. Has almost every type of program imaginable in the study of education (including law and urban studies/ESL).
Oldest education school in the country.

STANFORD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF EDUCATIONhttp://www.stanford.edu/
U.S. News Rank: #3 in general education, #3 in education administration, #1 in philosophical foundations, #1 in educational psychology, #6 in secondary teaching, and #3 in curriculum & instruction.
Application deadlines vary.
GRE required; average verbal=584, quantitative=634, analytical=640
Offers master's degrees in a variety of things, but only offers secondary certification in English, languages, math, science, and social studies.
See their STEP program (high level of collaboration between schools and university)

VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY-PEABODY COLLEGEhttp://peabody.vanderbilt.edu/
U.S. News Rank: #6 in general education and education administration, #9 in elementary teaching, #2 in special education, #8 in curriculum & instruction
Application deadline varies.
GRE (preferred) or MAT required; average GRE verbal=544, quantitative=580, analytical=605 and average MAT=54
Offers both certification and non-certification master's programs in a variety of subjects. There are also doctoral programs.

NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF EDUCATIONhttp://www.nyu.edu/education/
U.S. News Rank: #16 in general education
Application deadline is Feb.1.
GRE is used but not required for all applicants; average verbal=557, quantitative=549, analytical=not applicable.
Offers a variety of education programs (dance and theater education, ESL) and certification in many subjects. Also offers doctoral programs.

NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AND SOCIAL POLICY http://www.sesp.northwestern.edu/
U.S. News Rank: #18 in general education
Application deadline is Jan.15.
GRE required; average verbal=563, quantitative=612, analytical=632
Offers certification programs in secondary and elementary teaching and administration. Has a special Learning Sciences program, which deals with the social context, cognition, and design of teaching and learning.

UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION http://www.upenn.edu/gse/
U.S. News Rank: #20 in general education
Application deadline varies with program.
GRE (preferred) or MAT but they are not required for all applicants; average GRE verbal=534, quantitative=595, analytical=598 and average MAT=51
Offers a variety of education programs. Certification can be obtained in many subjects. There are also doctoral programs.

CORNELL UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOLhttp://education.cornell.edu/
U.S. News Rank: #29 in general education
Application deadline is Feb.1.
GRE required / MAT not required but you may submit scores; average GRE verbal=512, quantitative=638, analytical=633 and average MAT= 51
Offers certification in agriculture, science and/or math education; also in administration. There are also doctoral programs and master's degrees without certification.

BANK STREET COLLEGE OF EDUCATIONhttp://www.bnkst.edu
Not ranked by U.S. News.
Application deadline is March 1.
GRE/MAT are not required.
Offers certification and master's programs in a variety of subjects (including bilingual, special and museum education).

BOSTON COLLEGE LYNCH SCHOOL OF EDUCATIONhttp://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/soe/
U.S. News Rank: #31 in general education
Application deadline is Jan.1.
GRE (preferred) or MAT but they are not required for all applicants; average GRE verbal=510, quantitative=556, analytical=578 and average MAT=50
Offers master's certification and non-certification programs in a variety of subjects. Also offers doctoral program